[Z06] oil consumption
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: oceanside ny
oil consumption
How much oil does an "02" Zo6 normally consume??Since I bought it,10,000 miles ago, it drank about 2 quarts!!I use it, I don't abuse it,but then again I don't do 55! :confused: :mad
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Norristown PA
Re: oil consumption (DR.NICK)
A quart every 5000 miles is sipping oil rather than drinking it. I wouldn't be concerned with that type of oil consumption. My 99 used about 1 qt. per thousand and I accepted that although thus far my 03 Z06 uses none between changes. :steering:
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake Va
Re: oil consumption (tpocock)
I have change oil twice and have 9600 miles. Using 5W30 and at 2800 miles on this oil change I just added 1/2 quart. First time I had to add oil, before a change. George
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 67
From: USA
Re: oil consumption (GCubed)
Your oil consumption is fine! It means your rings were not sealed as GM recommends. That is "OK". It means at 100,000 to 125,000 miles you will not have cylindar wall taper and you will still be using the same amount of oil. Someone ran your engine hard within the fu=irst 300-400 miles. No big deal. Add oil as needed and drive it hard. Have fun! :) :)
Racer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento Ca
Re: oil consumption (Jim Painter)
Im considering getting a Z06, but the oil consumption is a bit alarming. Can someone point me to a thread or GM link that addresses this? Its hard to believe that 2 qts. every 10k is normal. Im not sure the high performance of a 385 HP engine explains excessive oil consumption. Especially considering a Supra can be lightly modded and hit 450 hp with no oil consumption.
Thanks.
[Modified by Jimwood, 6:11 AM 6/19/2003]
Thanks.
[Modified by Jimwood, 6:11 AM 6/19/2003]
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 473
Likes: 2
From: Columbus Ohio
Re: oil consumption (DR.NICK)
I had also heard before getting my Z that it used about half a quart every 2.5K miles. Seems normal.
By the way, you didn't change your oil for 10,000miles !!?!?!
Maybe thats the problem. I am not an authority, but I would think that as oil gets older it gets worse quicker. Does that make sense? I mean you may have only burned half a quart in the first 5k miles, but then maybe another half in the next 2k miles, and so on. This is totally intuitive thinking on my part. I just know new cooking oil lasts longer than older oil. :D
Personally i plan on changing my oil at 5k no matter what the DIC says.
Just my $0.02.
By the way, you didn't change your oil for 10,000miles !!?!?!
Maybe thats the problem. I am not an authority, but I would think that as oil gets older it gets worse quicker. Does that make sense? I mean you may have only burned half a quart in the first 5k miles, but then maybe another half in the next 2k miles, and so on. This is totally intuitive thinking on my part. I just know new cooking oil lasts longer than older oil. :D
Personally i plan on changing my oil at 5k no matter what the DIC says.
Just my $0.02.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,264
Re: oil consumption (Piranha)
Where do you guys get this crazy idea that a quart of oil every 5000 miles is high oil consumption?
Engines have to consume some oil to lubricate the tops of the cylinders and valve guides, and a quart every 5000 is quite low for a large displacement automotive engine.
The oil consumption of large reciprocating aircraft engines of yore was measured in GALLONS PER HOUR!!!
Duke
Engines have to consume some oil to lubricate the tops of the cylinders and valve guides, and a quart every 5000 is quite low for a large displacement automotive engine.
The oil consumption of large reciprocating aircraft engines of yore was measured in GALLONS PER HOUR!!!
Duke
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Montebell Ca
Re: oil consumption (DR.NICK)
My 03 Z06 ( 5000 miles now) has no oil consumption problem. I changed oil twice already. I checked the oil stick before doing the oil change and found that oil level was still full. I did follow break in for the first 500 miles from the Z06 video tape. :flag
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Re: oil consumption (DR.NICK)
I have a '01 Z and had the rings changed out and still uses 1 quart every 1,000 miles. So, the dealer put in a new engine, and wow...it uses no oil and runs a lot better and faster...I think they put in the newer engine rather than the same existing engine? who knows? :cool:
Racer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento Ca
Re: oil consumption (mjspeed)
Well it definetly seems that because people have oil consumption all over the chart, more oil consumption is bad. Displacement does not explain consumption. LT1's and LT5's do not consume oil at that rate. Bottom line if GM is replacing engines because of oil consumption, then its a bad thing, which would make sense. These are not 2 cycle engines.
Just my .02
Just my .02
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles California
Re: oil consumption
My 01 Z06 consumed 1 qt. every 800 miles before I had it re-ringed. Now the car uses about 1 qt. every 3000 miles. This appears to be normal per GM and my dealer. Admittingly, I drive the car hard on a daily basis irregardless of weather/temperature and track it on a regular basis.
Suprisingly even with the earlier outrageous oil consumption, the engine cranked out 410 HP at the crank and 348 rwhp on the chasis dyno. I havenot dyno'd the car since the re-ring, but there is a noticeable seat of the pants difference.
If you think the car is drinking too much Mobil 1, check it out. A competent dealer can deal with the issue. My position was that if they couldn't fix it, I was going to get a new engine. Fortunately it all worked out.
BTW, I did try 15w-30 and it did help a little, but the re-ringing made the most difference.
Perfect as delivered, no unfortunately not, but then again, this car competes with vehicles two to three times it value. I know for a fact Porsche's and Vipers have issues also.
Tremendous value, heck yes. Drive em and enjoy.
Suprisingly even with the earlier outrageous oil consumption, the engine cranked out 410 HP at the crank and 348 rwhp on the chasis dyno. I havenot dyno'd the car since the re-ring, but there is a noticeable seat of the pants difference.
If you think the car is drinking too much Mobil 1, check it out. A competent dealer can deal with the issue. My position was that if they couldn't fix it, I was going to get a new engine. Fortunately it all worked out.
BTW, I did try 15w-30 and it did help a little, but the re-ringing made the most difference.
Perfect as delivered, no unfortunately not, but then again, this car competes with vehicles two to three times it value. I know for a fact Porsche's and Vipers have issues also.
Tremendous value, heck yes. Drive em and enjoy.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 976
Likes: 0
From: Celina TEXAS!!!
Re: oil consumption (Z06Plasticfantastic)
Did anyone else notice in the video that came with your Z06 that in the section where they address racing that they actually tell you to add a QT of oil BEFORE racing?
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 0
From: Thompson Falls MT
Re: oil consumption (**** Finger)
Did anyone else notice in the video that came with your Z06 that in the section where they address racing that they actually tell you to add a QT of oil BEFORE racing?
[Modified by TAC, 8:52 PM 6/20/2003]
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles California
Re: oil consumption (TAC)
Yes, you are absolutely right. The extra qt. is to help keep the engine from starving out. At the Bragg Smith Driving School there is a series of turns at the beginning of the course which in the words of the owner, Rupert Bragg Smith, "are perfect for destroying engines. One turn gravitates the oil to one side of the pan and you go into a subsequent turn in the oposite direction (sorta like a reverse S) and the oil gravitates to the other side of the oil pan and the engine starves out and throws a rod. Chevorlet apparently discovered this phenomena at this track and tests engines there for this same effect.
The only alternative is an Accusump which is difficult to install because of the lack of room.
The only alternative is an Accusump which is difficult to install because of the lack of room.
